A Gathering of Flowers Part 2

“In that coming day,” says the LORD, “I will gather together those who are lame, those who have been exiles, and those whom I have filled with grief. Those who are weak will survive as a remnant; those who were exiles will become a strong nation. Then I, the LORD, will rule from Jerusalem as their king forever.” ~ Micah 4:6-7 NLT

One day, our friend stopped by and as soon as he got out of his car, he ran over to our ditch and said, “Do you know what this is?” Since we are not plant people, we had no clue what he was seeing—though we wanted to know what could possibly be so exciting in our ditch. “It’s Milkweed!” he exclaimed. Milkweed is where Monarch Butterflies lay their eggs. Our friend dug the Milkweed from the ditch and replanted it in our butterfly garden.

Sometimes we find ourselves in the ditches of life—through our choices or through circumstances beyond our control—and God is waiting to see what we’ll do. We each have the choice to give up and die or thrive and encourage others to do the same. God is watching the fields, valleys, and ditches. He’s looking for those whose circumstances are bleak, but don’t allow it to overtake them. Instead, they find the nutrients and richness of their surroundings and utilize them in order to stand firm when others wilt and die. God then pulls them out and replants them into larger gardens where they can continue to thrive, making the whole garden stronger, healthier, and more beautiful.

If you’ve been feeling a lot like that Milkweed, something many overlook and disregard, take heart! Father God sees you as precious and He is gathering you in order to replant you so you’ll grow stronger and shine brilliantly.

©Heather Potts 2016

A Gathering of Flowers

I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive. ~ Jeremiah 29:14 NKJV

I love playing outside with my girls because they are always bringing me gifts: an assortment of leaves (yanked from a bush) and wildflowers (plucked from a ditch). They grab the things which catch their eye, rarely keeping these beauties for themselves. Instead, they grab as many as their hands will hold and bring them to me. They are so proud of their findings, thinking they have found the best the world has to offer.

That’s how God sees us—as His treasures, His flowers. He is gathering His flowers together, His sons, His daughters. He doesn’t gather as a florist would—picking only the pristine and those that would gain a sale, discarding the dried up and wilting flowers. No, Father God reaches—just as a child—and selects the wild flowers from the ditches, the clovers from the fields, the leaves on the ground, and even the roses on the bush. He gathers them all together, arranging them to bring about the sweetest, harmonizing fragrance. Deeply He breathes in the rich aroma. He exhales and says, “Perfect.”

If you’ve been feeling worn out, dried up, wilted, or useless, then come to the feet of Jesus. Let Him gather you to Himself, showering you in His love, reviving and refreshing you. Only when you are revived and refreshed in God’s presence will you release that sweet aroma, which is pleasing to Him.

©Heather Potts 2016